Ghana Deserves Recognition as the Role Model for Religious Tolerance and Peace, 2. Happy Eid-ul Fitri, 2024.

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 10.04.2024. In Religious Peace for Quality Health and Development.

Though it is true that no human being can please Allah without faith, the universe can be a junior Heaven if believers really practice the teachings of the Holy Books. Issues of violence that we normally see in the Holy Books are used to warn believers against violent acts. God rewards people who diligently worship Him with pure hearts (Hebrews, 11:6; Quran., 5:9; Quran 2: 82. Quran 45:30). Anyone who genuinely worships Allah with a purity of heart, in normal situation, will never plan evil against his neighbor; especially when that person has caused no harm or offense.

The Holy Books are however not teaching believers to be cowards, but a believer can fight for his or her right with not with the intention of destroying. One Surah that I like most in the Noble Holy Quran is the verse that encourages people to be tolerant about their religious differences. This verse says that: “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned” (Quran, 2:256). This Quranic Surah is no different from what Jesus himself was telling the Pharisees lawyer who secretly planned to entrap him by asking him questions. Jesus did not use a blood relation of the Pharisees lawyer as his neighbor; rather he used someone who, in those days, was supposed to be his worst enemy as neighbor (Matthew 22: 34-40). 

             Figure 1: Promote Religious Peace for National and Internal Economic Growth.

The parable that Jesus gave agrees with many verses of both major Holy Books – the Holy Bible and Holy Quran. The Holy Bible teaching Christians to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44-47) and even provide them with food when they go hungry (Proverbs, 25:21) is not different from the Holy Quran teaching Muslims to be religious tolerance (Quran, 2:256). The Holy Quran says that it is practicing “… The ways of peace” (Quran 5:16) where believers are always encouraged to reconcile (Quran 4:128) for peace, since Allah do not like violence and encourages peaceful co-existence (Quran 2:205).  

Quran 56: 25-26 says that people who are true believers do no use abusive words on each other. All that you always hear them say is, “Peace, peace” (Steinhauer, 2016). Once peace loving is turned into hatred, human dignity becomes nothing but a mirage! Naturally when someone is tagged as an enemy, he/she is mostly considered as a threat. So, discrimination and stigmatization are normally meted out against that person. This is one of the reasons why both major Holy Books are always preaching that believers should love even those that they know hate them (Google.com, 2015; Matthew 5:44-47).

What normally creates problems between people is when they begin to see each other as competitors! Competing is not a bad thing if the competition is a healthy one (Otten, 2022). But when it is an unhealthy one, it could be very deadly (Otten, 2022; Barker & Barclay, 2016). Most political, religious, and Chieftaincy violence occurs as a result of this unhealthy competition but not the healthy one!

Irrespective of one’s status in society, in a violent environment everyone is vulnerable. Though a bullet might be directed toward someone specifically, what will happen if that person dodges the bullet and another person is standing behind? Everyone can be a victim during violence like reported in the Bawku’s old but recurrent Chieftaincy war and in Nigeria (Online, 2023; Lawal, 2022; Seidu, 2022). In the case of the Nigeria Boko Haram’s insurgence, even people who are very influential and mostly regarded as untouchable were also victims (Lawal, 2022). In the Bawku war in Ghana here, even someone who has no linkage with any of the fighting royalties became a victim; just because he was found at the wrong place at the wrong time (Seidu, 2022).

As Ghana is going into the polls this year, let us all be guarded by what we say, especially with respect to our religious differences. This is the first time that the contest is between a Christian and a Muslim. Our utterances must be about which of them can help save the nation but not about which religion the person belongs to! The good news for the nation is that both of them have been in governance and we know their strengths very well. If we really leave politics aside and put Mother Ghana first, we would realize that despite the too much politicization; some politicians are decent than others when it comes to being truthful to the electorates.

Whilst others steal the nation with heavy hearts and still do something for the nation, others are just purely in to steal without conscience. These are some of the issues that we should be thinking about as a nation that is thinking about development in a peaceful environment. It does not matter who is ruling Ghana! What matters is whether the person is taking Ghana to the promise land or Ghana is rather retrogressing.

Christians and Muslims in Ghana have been admired for long for their religious tolerance and understanding when it comes to issues of national development, like voting. As the competition is now between a Christian and a Muslim; though His Excellency Former President is half Christian, half Muslim, the expectation is still very high for Ghana. The global community is keenly watching at what will happen during this year’s general elections on 7^th December 2024.

What would prove that Ghanaian Christians and Muslims really love themselves would be determined by how peaceful and transparent this year’s elections would be. With the sort of love that believers of different faiths in Ghana share, I am, however, optimistic but not over complacent that; at the end Ghana will be singing a peace song but not war song. The only way that we can easily do this is when we consider this year’s election as a contest between Ghanaians who all think positively about the welfare of Ghana. Once we deviate from this and see the contest as an unhealthy competition between Christians and Muslims as religious rivals, the nation is already divided.

If you are really patriotic, this is the time to prove this patriotism by being a good citizen that always puts his/her nation first before any other consideration. If we cannot protect the enviable peace that we have been enjoying, no one can do that on our behalf. There is no way that we can protect peace when we allow our porous inherent differences to divide us because of unhealthy competition. As we approach this year’s general elections; think Ghana, think PEACE, think development! 

Thank you for Reading! I wish all Muslims around the globe a Happy Eid-ul Fitri. Alhamdulillah!

Some References

Barker, & Barclay. (2016). Local Competition Increases People's Willingness to Harm Others. Evol Hum Behav, 37(4): 315-322. Doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.02.001. PMID: 29805247; PMCID: PMC5969529. PubMed.

Google.com. (2015, September 12). The Quran chapter 45. Love your enemy. Retrieved from Islam and the Quran: Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/islamandthequran/quran-chapter-45-love-your-enemy on 01.06.2020 at 4:15AM.

Hebrews. (11:6, KJV, 1611). THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS. In K. James, The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV) (p. 1118). London: Cambridge University Press.

Lawal, N. (2022). Just In: Popular Chief Imam, 3 Other Worshippers Killed as Terrorists Attack Borno Mosque. Nigeria, Retrieved from https://www.legit.ng/nigeria/1490052-tears-terrorists-attack-borno-mosque-kill-imam-3-others on 06.09.2022 at 4:01 AM.

Matthew. (22: 34-40. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 910). London: Cambridge University Press.

Matthew. (5:44-47. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 889). London: Cambridge University Press.

Online, G. (Graphic online). (2023). Bawku Conflict: 27 Pregnant Women Die over Inability to Access Hospital. News, General, Retrieved on 12.03.2023 at 7:12 AM from; http://www.businessghana.com/site/news/General/279805/Bawku-conflict-27-Pregnant-women-die-over-inability-to-access-hospital.

Otten, K. (2022). Human Competition Is Not Lower If Competing Is Socially Wasteful Instead of Socially Beneficial. Sci Rep, Sci Rep. 12:10740. Doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14891-7. Retrieved from; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-14891-7#citeas on 10.04.2024 at 8:35 PM.

Proverbs. (25:21, KJV). The Proverbs. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 635). London: Cambridge University Press.

Quran. (2:256).

Quran. (2:82). Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayah 82. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (5:9). Surah Al-Maidah 5: Ayah 9. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (45:30). Surah Al-Jathiya 45: Ayah 30. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Seidu, S. (2022). Promoting Community-Based Conflict Resolution Can Save Lives. Blog Post, Retrieved from; https://wacsi.org/promoting-community-based-conflict-resolution-can-save-lives/ on 11.03.2023 at 7:30 AM.

Steinhauer, J. (2016, August 19). The Idea of Peace in the Qur’an. Retrieved from Blog: Retrieved from https://blogs.loc.gov/kluge/2016/08/the-idea-of-peace-in-the-quran/ on 01.06.2020 at 10:18PM.

Happy Testimonial New Year, 2024. Love All: Hate None!

 

Happy Testimonial New Year, 2024. Love All: Hate None!

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, In Social Issues and Public Health. 01.01.2024

 Figure 1. Happy Prosperous Testimonial New Year

Being favored amongst the living into 2024 is already a testimony! This testimony is the wish of every human being on earth, no one prays for bad things in life. When you end each month successfully and peacefully, that is a testimony! January is victory of victories that marks your first testimony of the year. This might be difficult if you leave God out of the journey. If start your year with Him irrespective of whatever difficult you might face there will always be a positive solution at the end (Smith S. (., 2021; Mc Tavish, 2018). No one washes clothing to make intentionally make them dirty! But no matter how gentle or careful one might be, what has been washed will still become dirty again. This explains our weaknesses as human beings!

To end the year peacefully be prepared for only good news but also prepare to amicably deal with bad news too. Once you have already built a strong mentality to face the year with faith, you will still be able to smile should you meet any inevitable. The problems with most religions are because of human behaviors but not because those religions are inherently bad! Do not allow the behavior of another human being to destroy the relationship between you and your God. As long as you do not live in isolation; others will like you naturally whilst some would also have problems with you. How you are able to cope and balance bad manners is very important in your interactions with others. For some, you have to let go! But for others especially depending on the nature of the issue you might need to peacefully draw the attention of the doer to it.  

Human beings are like water! Just as one cannot do without water one cannot live a peaceful and enjoyable life on earth without humans too. Water is used for cleaning all dirty things or areas. Everyone needs water for cooking, bathing, washing, rehydration, digestion and excretion of waste products from the body. Our various offices and homes will smell badly if there is no water to clean them. But though water is used for all these, irrespective of how pure it is if one uses different jars to fetch it and keep it in the jars for a month or more there will be scent. This is because the water initially which was pure, has been contaminated by contaminants from the environment.

The behaviors of most people are influenced by the environment in they find themselves. Even twins have their differences! This is particularly high when they grow up in different environments. Understanding this would help you to appreciate others’ opinions or understand why they might behave differently from you.

Life is like the health sector or playing football! For quality health care delivery, many health professionals need to synergize their various professional skills in taking care of a patient. If any of them fails to do the right thing and that is not also detected, the patient will suffer. They must all behave professionally before they can provide quality health care delivery to the patient. In the game of football professionalism is applied too. No one is a winner if no plays the ball! That is exactly how life is! No one will be able to survive if no one is ready to work too. What can help us succeed at the end as human beings is when we put away the garment of envy and jealousy; then put on the garment of common good. Think of others in whatever you do!

I wish everyone a Happy Prosperous New Year full of beautiful testimonies! Thank you for Reading! 

 

References

Mc Tavish, J. (2018). Jesus the Divine Physician. The Linacre Quarterly, 85(1): 18-23. Doi: 1177/0024363918761707.

Smith, C. (2019). How to Prepare to Pray. Spiritual Growth, Retrieved on 13.09.2021 at 3:40AM from https://unlockingthebible.org/lifekey/how-to-prepare-to-pray/.

Smith, S. (. (2021). 63 Bible Verses about All Things Are Possible Through God. Topical, Retrieved from https://www.openbible.info/topics/all_things_are_possible_through_god on 01.01.2022 at 9:03AM.

Stupart, Y. (2020). 7 Steps to More Effective Prayer. Humanities, Retrieved on 13.09.2021 at 4:21AM from https://owlcation.com/humanities/Christians-Growing-in-Prayer-Weekly-Devotions.

Merry Christmas, Don’t Judge! Choose to Love and Criticize Constructively

 

Merry Christmas, Don’t Judge! Choose to Love and Criticize Constructively,

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 25.12.2023

Figure 1: Don't Judge, Choose Love, Criticize Constructively Without Hatred!

What Christmas makes exceptional is not because of how beautiful or expensive one has dresses! Your inner beauty is more important to God than everything. Our inner beauties are determined by our ability to accept our faults or weaknesses, apologize when we go wrong, and forgive others who wrong us willingly. You are not celebrating Christmas if you are still hurting others or having evil thoughts about others. The Holy Spirit does not promote falsehoods, hatred and all forms of negativities that some people engage for the purpose of surviving. But no one is perfect than those who for whatever reasons might find themselves doing something that does not pleases God (John, 3:16; Romans., 3:23-24).

Jesus has taught his disciples how to live peacefully with others! This is what normally puts a smile on God’s face, not being too judgmental and discriminatory! The greatest commandment, parable of the Good Samaritan and the adulterous woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery (Matthew, 22: 34-40; Luke., 10:25-37; John., 8:1-11), as well as what happened when she was sent before Jesus; are full of beautiful lessons for all human kinds who really want to live peacefully with others in life.

Everyone that one meets in his/her life matters a lot in the journey of life! How we treat our colleague human beings at home, work, places of worships and anywhere people meet is what determines whether we really fear God or love Him. This is because every human being you meet in your life is an image of God that needs to be loved and respected. In our various homes, offices, and wherever you meet others; you might not be demonstrating love of God if you are spreading falsehoods or falsely accusing others.

This does not mean that we should be quiet when something is going wrong! We can constructively criticize, but no human being has the power to judge others except God. Jesus demonstrated this when he was tempted whether the woman caught in adultery should be stoned to death or not (John 8:1-11). In the first place where was the man who the woman was caught in adultery with? Sending the woman alone to Jesus leaving the man was already a bias judgment! One person does not commit adultery. Secondly, they themselves were not Angels but equally sinners like the woman; but because no one sees their sins they turn around to point fingers at her (Matthew 7:1-5).

This story is true about our various homes, offices/work places, where we worship and wherever two or more people meet. People spread falsehoods or lies against others but they have been involving in serious offenses than those that they point fingers at. After Jesus told the multitude who were accusing the adulterous woman to cast a stone at her if none of them has never sinned, no one threw a stone at her.

Christmas should be a season of repentance from negative behaviors that put you and others in trouble. This world with all its beauties would be meaningless if the whole world its wealth is given to one person without people. People can be travelling in the same vehicle, ship or aeroplane but have different destinations. The same is applicable to living in the same home, working in the same office or worshipping at the same place.

If we really understand this life as a mere journey that we are all making, there is no need envying others. A child of God who really has the Holy Spirit in him/her cannot hate another human being. But that does not mean that a believer (Christian, Muslim, Traditionalist or Whatever Believer) should allow himself/herself to be unnecessarily bullied by others. That is not what Jesus meant when he was talking about turning the other cheek (Luke, 6:29. KJV. 1611)!

But, how should we react? It mostly dependent on the nature of the situation or the person(s) involved. Generally, we are expected to react in a peaceful manner. But, if someone is violently hurting you, do you need to react peacefully or violently defend yourself? Certain happenings in life demand that as believers we must speak against them peacefully but not by trying to falsely accuse others to maintain neutrality. Speaking the truths against negatives behaviors is like putting up a defensive mechanism to protect yourself and others.

Wherever you might find yourself, you could be faced with unpredictable situations that demand that you should act. All our actions must always aim at promoting peace at the end. During times like these there is the need for both patience and vigilance! I wish all Christians around the globe Merry Christmas and a Happy Prosperous New Year in advance.

Thank you for Reading! Stay Blessed! 

References

John, a. (3:16, KJV, 1611). The Gospel According to St. John. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 982). London: Cambridge University Press.

John. (8:1-11. KJV, 1611). The Gospel According to St. John. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 990). London: Cambridge University Press.

Luke, a. (6:29. KJV. 1611). The Gospel According to St. Luke. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 951). London: Cambridge University Press.

Luke. (10:25-37. KJV, 1611). The Gospel According to St. Luke. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (pp. 958-959). London: Cambridge University Press.

Matthew. (22: 34-40, KJV). The Gospel According to St. Matthew. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 910). London: Cambridge University Press.

Matthew, a. (7:1-5. KJV. 1611). The Gospel According to St. Matthew. In K. James. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 690). London: Cambridge University Press.

Romans. (3:23-24, KJV. 1611). The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 1046). London: Cambridge University Press.

Ghana Deserves Recognition as the Role Model for Religious Tolerance and Peace: Happy Eid-ul Adha, 2023.

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 28.06.2023

Figure 1: Celebration of Religious Seasons Can Promotes Global Peace for Quality Health and Entrepreneurship

It is true that no one earth can please God if he/she has no faith! God rewards people who diligently worship Him with pure hearts (Hebrews, 11:6, KJV, 1611; Quran., 5:9; Quran, 2:82; Quran.., 45:30). Having faith alone is not enough for one to inherit eternity, but how faithful one is to God and humanity. How one treats his/her neighbor is as important as going to the house of God to worship Him. A truly God fearing and faithful person should have no reason to justify why someone should be attacked for allegedly disrespecting God or a religion. Such behavior is not an act of faithfulness but an act of lawlessness: the children of God are law abiding people but not law breakers.

If am always proud as a Ghanaian, one of the reasons is because Ghanaians understand religious tolerance and practically apply it in their various religions. So, during Christmas or Easter every Ghanaian is a Christian irrespective of one’s religion. When it is Eid-ul Fitri or Eid-ul Adha too, every Ghanaian is a Muslim. These beautiful picturesque scenes are worthy of being emulated by the rest of the world for Global Peace, Quality Health and Entrepreneurship.

There are evidences around the globe where differences in religion are used as tools for promoting violence instead of the opposite. Akua Serwaa Bonsu, a Ghanaian gospel musician, re-affirmed in her album “Ebeye Yie” that faith is what really makes one pleasing in the sight of God. She said this by saying in the most popular Ghanaian local language, Twi, that: “Gyedie nnim a obi nti mi nso a ni” (Bonsu, 2020). To wit, without faith no one can please God. Violence is not the right to way to proof that one is strong in his/her faith or loves God. It is the ability to love and tolerate your neighbor irrespective our religious differences like a Ghanaian believer.  

The Holy Books warned against condemnation or judgment: it is not only because when anyone does it the same would be measured unto the person (Matthew, 7:1-3. KJV. 1611). It is also because it can breeds anger amongst people (Konishi, 2017)! No one likes being judged or condemned. The best way to avoid being condemned or judged is by not condemning or unnecessarily vilifying others. Hence: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Editor., 2019). That does not means that when someone does something that is unethical or bad no one should talk. Target the issue that is creating the problem, by letting the person(s) understand why there is the need to stop it. But do not condemn or judge the human being(s)!  

If believers genuinely apply the teachings and celebration of religious seasons, most societal problems on earth would be solved. There would be no need for one to hate another because the Holy Books preach against hatred but rather promote peace. Example; forgiveness are paramount in these religious celebrations (Long et al., 2020). But forgiving others their wrongs do not only touches God’s heart to forgive us our sins, it also helps us to have peaceful minds that promote personal and inter-personal wellbeing. During the celebration of these seasons children of God are always advised to live peacefully with all manner of people. Repeating my post: “No matter how porous our environment is, if we want we can change it!” Thank you for READING!

References

Bonsu, A., S. (2020, April 14). Ebeye Yie. Retrieved from KKBOX: Retrieved from https://www.kkbox.com/my/en/album/5a4zInSTPUe4D0F4JQUC009H-index.html on 16.12.2020 at 7:45AM

Editor. (2019). Faith in Focus: The Golden Rule in All Faiths. Faith, Retrieved from https://naijaavenue.com/faith-in-focus-the-golden-rule-in-all-faiths/ on 15.01.2021 at 6:34PM.

Hebrews. (11:6, KJV, 1611). THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS. In K. James, The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV) (p. 1118). London: Cambridge University Press.

Konishi, N., Oe, T., Shimizu, H., Tanaka, K., & Ohtsubo, Y. (2017). Perceived Shared Condemnation Intensifies Punitive Moral Emotions. Sci Rep, 7:7289. Doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07916-z.

Long, K., N., G., Worthington Jr., E., L., VanderWeele, T., J., & Chen, Y. (2020). Forgiveness of Others and Subsequent Health and Well-being in Mid-life: a Longitudinal Study on Female Nurses. BMC Psychol, 8:104. Doi: 10.1186/s40359-020-00470-w.

Matthew, (7:1-3. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW . In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 890). London: Cambridge University Press.

Quran. (2:82). Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayah 82. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (5:9). Surah Al-Maidah 5: Ayah 9. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (45:30). Surah Al-Jathiya 45: Ayah 30. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.